A. Dayton Godwin
City Marshal

A. Dayton Godwin

Lilly Police Department — Lilly, GA
Felonious
End of Watch November 1, 1913
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Dayton Godwin was shot and killed while speaking to the owner of a dog that had eaten a steak at the city market.

The dog had followed its owner into the market, grabbed a steak, and ran outside to eat it. The market's owner demanded that the dog's owner pay for the steak but the man refused. Marshal Godwin, the market owner's brother, was called and attempted to mediate.

The subject drew a handgun when Marshal Godwin suggested the man settle with the market owner. The two exchanged shots and Marshal Godwin was struck in the chest twice. The suspect, 28, a local prominent farmer, was apprehended and released. No charges.

City Marshal Godwin, On today, the 110th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Lily.

R.I.P. USBP

Anonymous United States Border Patrol November 1st, 2023

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-EE786497
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew A.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Godwin served with the Lilly Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lilly community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Godwin.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Lilly, GA
Platform Identity lpd.dooly.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 1, 1913
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

City Marshal A. Dayton Godwin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Lilly Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. A. Dayton Godwin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How A. Dayton Godwin Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. A. Dayton Godwin is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. A. Dayton Godwin was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Lilly Police Department are honored on badge.nw.